Current UFL franchises:
• Orlando, Fla.
• Sacramento, Calif.
• Hartford, Conn.
• Las Vegas.
The league reportedly has been considering four cities for two expansion franchises.
Omaha, welcome to the United Football League . . . almost.
The commissioner of the upstart professional football league will be joined by Omaha officials Thursday at Qwest Center Omaha for what the UFL bills as a “major announcement” regarding the league.
UFL officials were in Omaha two weeks ago talking with local officials about the possibility of playing this fall at Rosenblatt Stadium and perhaps moving to the new downtown stadium in 2011-12.
As for Thursday's announcement, the UFL — heading into its second year of attempting to meet the needs “of football fans in major markets currently underserved by professional football” — is remaining coy.
“We'll have an announcement on Thursday. The UFL has been in Omaha to discuss possibilities, but I can't say more than that," said UFL spokesman Michael Preston.
UFL Commissioner Michael Huyghue, Omaha Mayor Jim Suttle and officials from the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce and Metropolitan Entertainment and Convention Authority are scheduled to be on hand for Thursday's announcement at 9:30 a.m.
Some of the UFL's discussions with Omaha officials have been on a possible playing venue.
The manager of downtown's TD Ameritrade Park, MECA, confirmed to The World-Herald in late March that it has held discussions with the UFL. But MECA President Roger Dixon said at the time through a spokeswoman that no agreement had been reached.
The UFL, which currently has four teams, features former players from the National Football League and former college players hoping to get there.
The league had listed Omaha, Salt Lake City, San Antonio and Austin, Texas, as contenders for a new franchise.
In a previous interview, Huyghue said a local ownership group is not required upfront. He said the league could start out owning the team and add a local group later.
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